JP2004275601A - Image management device and image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To highly efficiently display related data according to the position of an anomaly part in a medical image. <P>SOLUTION: Selected regions A1 and A2 are set on the medical image and related data K1 and K2 such as other images related to the medical image, and a table and a graph as the result of an examination are registered in the selected regions A1 and A2. When specifying the selected region A1 in displaying the medical image, the related data K1 registered in the specified selected region A1 are displayed along with the medical image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image management apparatus that manages medical images, and an image display apparatus that displays medical images and related data related thereto.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the field of medical images, medical images such as radiation images of patients are stored in an image server in a hospital, and medical images are transferred to the terminal devices in response to requests from terminal devices such as personal computers owned by doctors. A system that displays the information is used. In such a system, a medical device obtained by imaging a patient with an input modality such as a CR (Computed Radiography) device, a CT (Computed Tomography) device, or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) device. By storing the images in the image server, the doctor can refer to the necessary images on the terminal device, so that diagnosis can be performed efficiently.
[0003]
In diagnosis using such a medical image, in addition to the medical image, a detailed image of an abnormal region in the medical image (for example, an energy subtraction image obtained by removing the bone region in the chest image), a table indicating the examination result, By displaying related data such as graphs along with medical images, diagnosis can be performed more efficiently.
[0004]
In addition, the endoscopic image is displayed on a display unit having a touch panel, a mark indicating the touched position on the touch panel is given to the endoscopic image, and the mark is designated by a mouse pointer or the like when referring to the endoscopic image. Thus, a system has been proposed in which an examination report for a patient who obtained the endoscopic image is retrieved and displayed (see Patent Document 1). Thereby, a diagnosis can be performed efficiently with reference to both an endoscopic image and an inspection report.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-120498
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if all the related data is displayed together with the medical image when a plurality of abnormal parts are included in the medical image, it is difficult to confirm which related data corresponds to which abnormal part. On the other hand, in the system described in Patent Document 1, if a part is specified, an inspection report corresponding to the part can be displayed. However, since the inspection report needs to be searched, it takes a long time to display the inspection report. There's a problem.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to efficiently display related data associated with the position of an abnormal site or the like in a medical image.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image management apparatus according to the present invention includes an area setting unit that sets a selection area at a specified position on a medical image;
Related data registration means for receiving designation of related data to be registered in the selection area; and association means for associating position information about the selection area and registration information about the related data with the medical image Is.
[0009]
“Position information” means information that specifies the position of the selected area on the medical image and the size of the selected area, such as the coordinates of the selected area on the medical image and the size of the selected area. The shape of the selection area may be specified in advance, or may be specified when setting the selection area. In the latter case, the position information includes information on the shape of the selected area.
[0010]
“Registration information” includes the file name of the related data, the storage location of the related data, the format of the related data (eg, image, table, graph, monochrome or color), the size when the related data is displayed, and the display position. This means various information necessary for displaying related data, such as the display order when there are a plurality of related data.
[0011]
The image display device according to the present invention displays a medical image in which the position information and the registration information are associated with each other by the image management device according to the present invention, and also displays the selection area based on the position information. When,
Designation accepting means for accepting designation of the selection area;
And display control means for displaying related data registered in the selection area designated by the designation receiving means on the display means together with the medical image based on the registration information. .
[0012]
“Display the selection area clearly” means that a mark indicating the selection area is added to the medical image, the outline of the selection area is displayed, and the color of the selection area is changed when the mouse pointer is moved over the selection area. Any form may be used as long as the selected area can be visually recognized, such as changing the shape of the mouse pointer when the mouse pointer is moved over the selected area.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a selection area is set at a specified position on a medical image, designation of related data to be registered in the selection area is accepted, and position information about the selection area and registration information about related data are received as a medical image. Associate with. When displaying the medical image, the selection area is displayed based on the position information so that the selection area can be clearly displayed. When the selection area is specified, the related data registered in the specified selection area is registered based on the registration information. Is displayed together with the medical image. For this reason, if a selection area is set for an abnormal part on a medical image and registered in a selection area in which related data such as an inspection result and a detailed image for the abnormal part is set, it is only necessary to specify the selection area. The related data registered in the selection area can be efficiently displayed.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a medical image storage system to which an image management apparatus and an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the medical image storage system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality (three in this case) of personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C having functions as an image management device and an image display device, and medical images and related data. A plurality of input modalities 5 for generating medical images, such as a CR (Computed Radiography) device, a CT (Computed Tomography) device, and an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) device. It is configured to be connected via the network 2.
[0015]
In the image server 3, the medical image generated by the input modality 5 and related data related to the medical image are transmitted via the network 2 and stored. Here, as related data, a detailed image of an abnormal site included in a medical image (for example, an energy subtraction image obtained by removing a bone part by subtraction processing in a radiographic image of a chest), a table showing a test result, a graph, and the like However, it is not limited to these. The related data is transmitted from the input modality 5 and also transmitted from a terminal device such as a personal computer owned by a doctor or a laboratory technician and stored in the image server 3. The image server 3 also stores medical images and related data transmitted via the network 2 for each patient or examination. Specifically, a folder is created for each patient or examination, and medical images and related data corresponding to the folder are stored.
[0016]
All the related data need not be stored in the image server 3, but may be stored in a terminal device owned by a doctor, a laboratory technician, or the like, in addition to the personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the personal computer. Since the personal computers 1A, 1B, and 1C all have the same configuration, only the configuration of the personal computer 1A will be described here. As shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer 1A includes a CPU 11 that controls the operation of the personal computer 1A, a CPU 11 that includes a program for operating the personal computer 1A as an image management device and an image display device, and a program for accessing the image server 3. A hard disk 12 which is a storage means for storing various information such as an operation program and medical images and related data, a RAM 13 which is a work area at the time of program execution, a network interface 15 for connection to the network 2, and various types The input unit 16 includes a keyboard and a mouse for inputting, and a monitor 17 that performs various displays.
[0018]
The CPU 11 reads out and executes the programs of the image management device and the image display device from the hard disk 12, and the CPU 11 functions as an area setting unit, an association unit, and a display control unit. Further, the input unit 16 functions as a designation receiving unit and related data registration unit, and the monitor 17 functions as a display unit.
[0019]
Next, processing performed in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing performed in the present embodiment. First, here, processing when the personal computer 1A is operated as an image management apparatus will be described. It is assumed that the medical image and related data are stored in the image server 3. First, the CPU 11 monitors whether or not an instruction to display a medical image by the operator has been performed by the input unit 16 (step S1). When step S1 is affirmed, the medical image that has been instructed is displayed on the image server. 3 (step S2) and displayed on the monitor 17 (step S3). Note that the medical image displayed here is not associated with position information of a selection area, which will be described later, and registration information of related data.
[0020]
Subsequently, the CPU 11 starts monitoring whether or not there has been an instruction to set a selection area using the input unit 16 (step S4). When step S4 is affirmed, the selection area is set at the indicated position. (Step S5). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a selection area is set on the medical image of the chest displayed on the monitor 17. Although two circular selection areas A1 and A2 are set here, the shape of the selection areas A1 and A2 is not limited to this and may be a rectangle. The shape of the selection area may be arbitrarily set by the operator of the personal computer 1A when setting the selection area.
[0021]
Subsequently, the CPU 11 starts monitoring whether or not the input unit 16 has instructed the display of the related data K1 and K2 registered in the set selection areas A1 and A2 (step S6), and step S6 is positive. Then, the related data K1 and K2 instructed are read from the image server 3 (step S7) and displayed on the monitor 17 (step S8).
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which related data is displayed on the monitor 17 together with the medical image. Here, the state where the related data K1 registered in the selection area A1 is displayed is shown. Further, it is assumed that the chest energy subtraction image K11 and the examination result graph K12 are used as the related data K1.
[0023]
Then, the CPU 11 starts monitoring whether or not an instruction to register the related data K1 has been given from the input unit 16 (step S9). When step S9 is affirmed, the center positions and sizes (radius) of the selection areas A1 and A2 are determined. Information indicating the file size of the related data K1 and K2, the location of the data, the format of the data such as whether it is an image or a table, the size at the time of display, the display position and the display order The information is associated with the medical image (step S10), the medical image associated with the position information and the registration information is transmitted to the image server 3 (step S11), and the process ends. In the image server 3, the transmitted medical image is overwritten and stored.
[0024]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the association between a medical image, position information, and registration information. As shown in FIG. 6, the selection areas A1 and A2 are associated with the file name of the medical image, and the position information and the registration information are associated with each of the selection areas A1 and A2. The position information includes the positions and sizes in the x and y directions of the selection areas A1 and A2 on the medical image. The registration information includes file name, data location (for example, URL of the image server 3), data format, size, display position, and display order information when there are a plurality of related data.
[0025]
Next, an operation at the time of displaying a medical image in which position information and registration information are associated will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation when displaying a medical image. Here, processing in the case of displaying a medical image on a personal computer 1B different from the personal computer 1A will be described. First, the CPU 11 monitors whether or not an instruction to display a medical image has been issued by the input unit 16 (step S21). If step S21 is affirmed, the medical image that has been instructed is received from the image server 3. Reading (step S22) and displaying on the monitor 17 (step S23).
[0026]
Subsequently, the CPU 11 starts monitoring whether or not the selection areas A1 and A2 have been designated using the input unit 16 (step S24). When step S24 is affirmed, the designated selection area (here, The related data K1 registered in A1) is read from the image server 3 (step S25), the related data K1 is displayed on the monitor 17 together with the medical image (step S26), and the process is terminated.
[0027]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a medical image and related data displayed on the monitor 17. As shown in FIG. 8, the outline of the selection areas A1 and A2 is displayed on the monitor 17, and the selection area A1 is selected and the color of the selection area A1 is different from the color of the selection area A2. FIG. 6 shows a state in which an energy subtraction image K11 of the chest is displayed on the medical image as the related data K1 registered in FIG. When a plurality of related data is registered in the selected area, the next button 17A is displayed. When the next button 17A is clicked, other related data is displayed according to the display order included in the registration information. Is displayed. Here, since the test result graph K12 is registered in the selection area A1, when the next button 17A is clicked, the test result graph K12 is displayed on the monitor 17 instead of the energy subtraction image K11.
[0028]
As described above, in this embodiment, the selection areas A1 and A2 are set at specified positions on the medical image, and the related data K1 and K2 related to the selection areas A1 and A2 are registered in the selection areas A1 and A2. The position information about the selection areas A1 and A2 and the registration information about the related data K1 and K2 are stored in association with the medical image, and when the medical image is displayed, the selection areas A1 and A2 are medically used based on the position information. When it is displayed on the image and the designation of the selection areas A1 and A2 is received, the related data K1 and K2 registered in the selection areas A1 and A2 designated based on the registration information are displayed together with the medical image. . For this reason, if the selection areas A1 and A2 are set in the abnormal part on the medical image, and the related data K1 and K2 such as examination results and detailed images about the abnormal part are registered in the selection area A1 and A2, the selection is made. It is possible to efficiently display the related data K1 and K2 registered in the selected area only by designating the areas A1 and A2.
[0029]
In the above embodiment, when the medical image is displayed, the selection areas A1 and A2 can be clearly indicated by displaying the outlines of the selection areas A1 and A2. However, the mouse pointer is moved on the medical image. When the mouse pointer is positioned on the selection areas A1 and A2, the selection areas A1 and A2 on the medical image may be made explicit by changing the shape of the mouse pointer. Further, when the mouse pointer is positioned on the selection areas A1 and A2, the selection areas A1 and A2 may be clearly indicated by inverting the colors of the selection areas A1 and A2. Further, instead of the outlines of the selection areas A1 and A2, the selection areas A1 and A2 may be made explicit by adding marks indicating that the selection areas are A1 and A2.
[0030]
In the above embodiment, two selection areas are set, but only one may be set, or three or more selection areas may be set.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a medical image storage system to which an image management device and an image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a personal computer. Showing the processing performed in (1)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where a selection area is set on a medical image of a chest displayed on a monitor. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where related data is displayed together with a medical image on a monitor (part 1).
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the association between a medical image and position information and registration information. FIG. 7 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating processing performed in the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where related data is displayed together with a medical image on a monitor (part 2);
[Explanation of symbols]
1 PC 2 Network 3 Image server 5 Input modality 11 CPU
12 Hard disk 13 RAM
15 Network interface 16 Input unit 17 Monitor

Claims (2)

Area setting means for setting a selection area at a specified position on the medical image;
Related data registration means for accepting designation of related data to be registered in the selected area;
An image management apparatus comprising: association means for associating position information on the selected area and registration information on the related data with the medical image. Display means for displaying the medical image in which the position information and the registration information are associated with each other by the image management apparatus according to claim 1, and displaying the selected area in an explicit manner based on the position information;
Designation accepting means for accepting designation of the selection area;
An image display device comprising: display control means for displaying related data registered in the selection area designated by the designation receiving means on the display means together with the medical image based on the registration information .

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